I originally put this in an old thread, then decided it wasn't quite the right spot. This probably isn't, either, but Oh, well - I'm excited about it!

I just got a very nice phone call.I sent my uncle handknit socks for his birthday (ok, so they were 4 months late, but still.)First he talked about his first impression - They're beautiful! wow, the stitches are so even they look machine-made, no, wait, how did society get to the point where we think machine made is better, because it isn't... They're so soft!... How long did they take?... Can I machine wash them?... Well, I don't machine dry my socks anyway, the elastic gets all stretched out, so I'd air dry them anyway... Yes, they fit perfectly; I probably won't wear them this week because it's 105 degrees here, but soon, they'll go great with my sandals and khakis.... A good 10 minutes, probably, in admiring conversation for my work.

That's a great feeling, isn't it? I got several phone messages from my stepson about the "wonderful," "amazing" socks I made for him. I think its marvelous when the recipient clearly sees it as a gift of love, and really, really shows they appreciate it, like your uncle and my stepson.

Those are very pretty socks, Little Mousling. I would rave over them too, if I got a pair.

Well I knit a sweater out of an early Rowan pattern book. It was an oversized cardi, but more of a coat sweater. I always wanted to make it, so it was my first sweater. It was in a purple tweed--Rowan Fox Tweed that I got at a yarn shop that was closing. I bought Rowan toggle buttons for it. It turned out splendid, even if it was no longer in style. Then I realized that I would probably never wear it, as we are moving to Alabama, so I wrapped it up and sent it to my sister, who lives in Wisconsin. Purple is her favorite color, and she hates wearing a coat. I thought she might love this sweater and get lots of wear out of it. It is one of those cozy sweaters--big wide cuffs, and a nice collar you can wear up or down flat. I did not tell her about it and mailed it to her. She just loved it! I was more delighted than she was just because of her wonderful reaction. I never knit for myself but do not always get appreciation in return for all the hard work that goes into a knit item.Sharon